Railway car truck



Nov. 10, 1936.

J. G. BOWER RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed June '7, 1934 3 Shets-Sheet l Jerame ,3

Nov. 10, 1936. J. G. BOWER RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed June 7, 1934 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jeram (1 .fiower Nov. 10, 1936. J. G. BOWER RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed June 7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jerome ,Bower VIII/I a Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES T cries RAILWAY OAR TRUCK bus, Ohio Application June '7, 1934, Serial No. 729,489

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in railway car trucks, and more especially to trucks which use coil springs and canti-lever leaf springs for supporting a bolster and its load.

Heretofore it has been proposed in such a truck to use a conventional spring plank and a spring seat casting which serves as a bearing for the outer ends of the semi-elliptic springs. The spring plank limits the depth of the bolster, and this adds considerable weight to that member. The spring seat casting is also relatively heavy and adds cost to the truck. This design of truck is, therefore, handicapped with weight and cost, and cannot compete favorably with other trucks using coil and leaf springs. Furthermore, as the coil springs are placed symmetrical with the center line of the axle journals and side frame, the semi-elliptic springs are entirely an eccentric load on the side frame and journals.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to overcome the handicaps of the above mentioned truck.

Another object is to eliminate the conventional heavy spring plank, and to substitute therefor relatively light spaced bars which are detachably connected to the side frames of the truck. These bars provide clearance for the travel of the bolster, due to spring compression, and they will not obstruct parts depending from the bolster.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a top plan View of a portion of a railway car truck provided with one form of my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation, of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the manner of connecting a brake beam safety support to one of the spacing bars which take the place of the usual spring plank.

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are respectively, a top plan, side elevation and transverse vertical sectional view of a detail showing the spacing bar combined with wearing blocks for the support of the outer ends of the leaf springs.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing a modification.

Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively, a horizontal sectional and vertical sectional view of a modification in which the ends of the spacing bars are 5 anchored in holes in a side frame.

Figs. 12 and 13 are similar views, but showing the ends of the side bars connected by a cross member which is cradled in a recess in the shelf of a spring plank portion of a side frame. 10

Fig. 14 is a View like Fig. 13, but showing the spaced bar loop combined with a relatively light spring supporting plate.

Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a portion of another modification, in which 15 the cross piece of the spaced bars rests in a recess in a shelf projecting inwardly from a side frame, and held in place by a spring plate having an inward extension.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, i6 is a side frame supported by wheels H. The tension member [8 of the side frame carries a spring plate I 9 on which rests conventional coil springs that partially support the outer end of a bolster 2011 which projects through the bolster opening 2| of the side frame.

The bolster is also partially supported by semielliptic leaf springs 22, the inner ends of which rest upon a shelf 23 depending from the bolster, and the outer ends of which rest on the cross piece 24 which joins the outer ends of spaced cross bars 25 which take the place of the customary spring plank. In this form of the invention, the parts 2 3 and 25 form an annular frame or loop, and the ends of the loop are connected to hooks 26 which project inwardly from the spring seat portions of the opposite side frames.

At the point 21, the bolster rests upon the medial portions of the leaf springs. 4 The loop frame spacer is much lighter in weight than the usual spring plank, and is more economically manufactured. Furthermore, as the side bars are spaced from the sides of the bolster, it will be understood that when the bolster moves up and down, its central portion and parts depending therefrom can move through the space between the bars. In other words, the loop frame does not obstruct the travel of the bolster, due to spring compression. Furthermore, the loop frame, or its equivalent, permits the attachment of brake beam safety supports 28, as shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, are shown modifications which introduce wearing blocks. In this form of the invention, the top of the cross members 24a of the loop frame spacer is protected from wear due to the leaf springs by wear pieces 29, and the side frame is protected from wear by the blocks 30. The parts 29 and 3B are preferably interlocked, and rest in pockets 3| projecting inwardly from the spring seat portion 32a of the side frame. When it is necessary to shim the truck, the leaf springs may be shimmed, by varying the thickness of liner plates 32 positioned in the pockets beneath the parts 29 and 30.

The structure shown in Fig. 9 is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, with the exception that the part 29 is omitted, and the part 30a is made in the form of a curved block or cradle to receive the cross piece 241) of the loop frame spacer.

Instead of making the spacer in the form of a loop, I may employ a plurality of separate distinct bars 25a, as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, and the ends of these bars may project downwardly, as shown at 25b, and be anchored in pockets 250 in the spring seat portion of the side frame. With such a construction, I may employ a spring seat l9a which will function as a retainer to prevent the ends of the bars from accidentally detaching from the side frame.

A substantial spring seat [91) may also be employed for holding the ends of the frame in connection with the side frames, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. In this structure, each side frame will form a cradle 26a to receive the cross piece 240 at the end of the frame 25d, and the spring seat I91) will close the mouth of the cradle and prevent accidental detachment of the frame spacer.

In place of the relatively heavy spring seat illustrated in Figs 12 and 13, I may employ a relatively thin light spring seat I90, as illustrated in Fig 14, for the weight borne by the springs 20a will function to hold the spring seat in place, and thereby prevent the cross piece 24d of the frame spacer 256 from disconnecting from the side frame.

If desired, the cradle 26b for the support of the spacer 25 may be carried by a shelf 26c projecting inwardly from the spring seat portion of the side frame, and in such case, the spring plate l9d can be provided with a projecting part Me which will overhang the end portion of the loop and prevent accidental detachment of the frame spacer.

It will be noted that the coil and leaf springs are so arranged relatively to each other that eccentricity of the spring load on the side frame is avoided. However, I do not claim such arrangement as a part of my invention, but show the same merely as a convenient illustration of arrangements which may be used to advantage in conjunction with the other features defined by the appended claims.

From the foregoing it is believed my improvements and the advantages thereof may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and it is obvious that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening, springs in the bolster opening supported by the side frame, a bolster having one of its ends projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a loop spacer for connecting the side frame to the opposite side frame of the truck, said spacer comprising side bars connected by a cross piece, said cross piece being detachably connected to the side frame, the distance between said side bars being greater than the entire width of the medial portion of the bolster to permit said medial portion to move up and down in the loop spacer, and a leaf spring cantilevered from the bolster and having its free end projecting over said cross piece and supported by the side frame for normally retaining the connection between the side frame and spacer.

2. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening, springs in said opening supported by the side frame, a bolster having one of its ends projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a spacer for connecting the side frame to the opposite side frame of the truck, said spacer being of loop shape and having a cross piece and side bars, a cradle associated with the side frame for detachably connecting the cross piece of the spacer to the side frame, and a leaf spring cantilevered from the bolster and supported at its free end by the side frame.

3. A railway car truck comprising a side frame having a bolster opening, springs in said opening, a bolster having an end portion projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a loop frame spacer having a cross piece and side bars, a leaf spring cantilevered from the bolster and supported at its free end by the side frame, a cradle carried by the side frame for detachably connecting the cross piece of said spacer to the side frame, and means for normally retaining the connection between side frame and spacer comprising the free end of said leaf spring when the latter is under load.

4. A railway car truck comprising a side frame having a bolster opening, springs arranged in said opening, a bolster having an end projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a loop spacer for joining the side frame to the opposite side frame of the truck and consisting of side bars and cross pieces, said side frame having a cradle in Which one of said cross pieces rests, and a leaf spring having one of its ends and its medial portion bearing upon the bolster, and its opposite end resting upon said cross piece.

5. A railway car truck comprising a side frame having a bolster opening, springs arranged in said opening, a bolster having an end projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a loop spacer for joining the side frame to the opposite side frame of the truck and consisting of side bars and cross pieces, said side frame having a cradle in which one of said cross pieces rests, and a leaf spring having one of its ends and its medial portion bearing upon the bolster, and its opposite end supported by said cross piece, and a wear block arranged between said cross piece and the outer end of said leaf spring.

6. A railway car truck comprising a side frame having a bolster opening, springs in said opening, a bolster having an end portion projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a loop frame spacer having a cross piece and side bars, means for detachably connecting the cross piece to said side frame, a shelf depending from said bolster, and a leaf spring having one of its ends bearing upon said shelf and its other end bearing upon said cross piece, said bolster resting upon the medial portion of said leaf spring.

7. A railway car truck comprising a side frame having a bolster opening, springs in said opening,

a bolster having an end portion projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a loop frame spacer having a cross piece and side bars, means for detachably connecting the cross piece to said side frame, a shelf depending from said bolster, and a leaf spring having one of its ends bearing upon said shelf and its other end hearing upon said cross piece, said bolster resting upon the medial portion of said leaf spring, the means for detachably connecting the cross piece to the side frame comprising a cradle carried by the side frame.

8. A railway car truck comprising a side frame having a bolster opening, springs in said opening, a bolster having an end portion projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a loop frame spacer having a cross piece and side bars, means for detachably connecting the cross piece to said side frame, a shelf depending from said bolster, and a leaf spring having one of its ends bearing upon said shelf and its other end bearing upon said cross piece, said bolster resting upon the medial portion of said leaf spring, the means for detachably connecting the cross piece to the side frame, comprising a cradle block detachably connected to the side frame.

9. A railway car truck comprising a side frame having a bolster opening, springs in said opening, a bolster having an end portion projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a loop frame spacer having a cross piece and side bars, means for detachably connecting the cross piece to said side frame, a shelf depending from said bolster, and a leaf spring having one of its ends bearing upon said shelf and its other end bearing upon said cross piece, said bolster resting upon the medial portion of said leaf spring, the means for detachably connecting the cross piece to the side frame including a pocket in the side frame, a shim resting in said pocket, and a cradle resting on the shim and engaging said cross piece.

10. A railway car truck comprising a side frame having a bolster opening, springs in said opening, a bolster having an end portion projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a loop frame spacer having a cross piece and side bars, means for detachably connecting the cross piece to said side frame, a shelf depending from said bolster, a leaf spring having one of its ends bearing upon said shelf and its other end supported by said cross piece, said bolster resting upon the medial portion of said leaf spring, and a wear block positioned between the cross piece and one end of the leaf spring.

11. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a pocket, a cradle block detachably arranged in the pocket, a wear member engaging said block, portions of the wear member and block being spaced apart, a loop spacer having a cross piece extending through the space between the block and wear member, and a. leaf spring having an end resting upon said wear member.

12. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening, a. spring seat member, and a bracket extending inwardly from said spring seat member, springs in said opening resting on the spring seat member, a bolster having one of its ends pro- J'ecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a spacer adapted to connect the side frame to the opposite side frame of the truck and comprising a loop frame consisting of substantially parallel spaced bars extending from side frame to side frame and joined at their ends by cross pieces, one of said cross pieces being detachably secured to said bracket, and a leaf spring cantilevered from the bolster and supported at its free end by the side frame.

13. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening and a spring seat member, springs in said opening resting on the spring seat mem ber, a bolster having one of its ends projecting into said opening and resting on said springs, a spacer connecting the side frame to the opposite side frame of the truck and comprising substantially parallel spaced bars extending from side frame to side frame, the ends of the spacer being detachably connected to the side frames and the bars being spaced apart a greater distance than the width of the medial portion of the bolster to allow the latter to move upwardly and downwardly without interference by the spacer, and a leaf springcantilevered from the bolster and supported at its free end by the side frame.

JEROME G. BOWER. 

